Flexible power raceway

ABSTRACT

A connection system for cables comprises a raceway adapted to cover the cable and a raceway outlet element connectable to the raceway. The raceway outlet element includes a first connection element for connecting the cable to second connection element.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of the EuropeanPatent Application No. 05 013 505.2 filed Jun. 22, 2005, as well as ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/692,904 filed Jun. 22, 2005, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field relates to a connecting device and a connecting method forcables, to a seat, to the use of a connection device in an aircraft, andto a means of transportation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cabin layouts for passenger aircrafts comprise usually three differenttypes: first class, business class and economy class. In order tooptimize the utilization of the capacity the aircraft, companies wish tochange the cabin layout depending on how many reservations for eachclass are available. In order to receive a profitable and shortreconfiguration time, the aircraft companies need to change thepassenger seat configuration very quickly.

Because modern passenger seats are equipped with several electronicdevices, it is not enough to change just the seat position, but also theconnection of the electronic data and power cables. According to thereferences, the cables of the seats are embedded in so-called raceways.Wherever a cable should be connected to a seat, the raceway provides araceway outlet wherein the cable may exit and may be connected to anelectronic device, for instance in a seat. If an aircraft company needsto change the space between each seat, it may be necessary to providenew raceways to position the exits for the cables on the right position,usually close to the seat leg. As a result for this complicated system,the duration to reconfigure the cabin layout is quite long andcomplicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among other things, it may be an object to provide a flexible connectionbetween cables.

This object may be solved by a connection device, by a seat, by aconnecting method, by the use of the connection device in an aircraft,and by a means of transport with the features according to theindependent claims.

According to an embodiment, a connection device comprising a racewayoutlet element connectable to a raceway for receiving cables, whereinthe raceway outlet element includes a first connection element forconnecting the cable to a second connection element which is designed tocorrespond to the first connection element.

According to a further embodiment, a seat is provided comprising asecond connection element which is designed to correspond to and to beconnected to a first connection element of a connection device havingthe above-mentioned features.

According to a further embodiment, a connection device having theabove-mentioned features and/or a seat having the above-mentionedfeatures is or are used in an aircraft.

For aircraft companies, it may be important to change the seatconfigurations in a fast way, in order to change, for instance, frombusiness class cabin layout to economy class cabin layout. Becausemodern aircraft seats may be equipped with several electronic devices,it may be not enough to change just the seat position. Because the seatsmay need to be fed by power and data connections, it may also beimportant to provide flexible and adjustable feed lines. Therefore, thecables are embedded in raceways on the floor and may be changed in theirlength. With the connection system according to an embodiment, at anyposition of the seats, seats may be connected with the cable interfaceof the raceway. Therefore, lead time may be minimized by a cabin layoutreconfiguration so that, for example, a complete reconfiguration of theaircraft seat positions may be adapted in one night or less. With thisfast reconfiguration time of the cabin layout, the efficiency of anaircraft may be increased.

According to a further embodiment, the raceway outlet element includes athird connection element for connecting a second cable. Therefore,further cables respectively may be added to the connection devices maybe added so that every desirable length may be available and any amountof connection devices may be added to one connection device.

According to a further embodiment, the raceway comprises an upper and abottom part, wherein the bottom part is connected with a floor and theupper part is connected to the bottom part, wherein the cables arerouted in the raceway parts. With this two-part raceway, an easyinstallation of a raceway system may occur. First of all, the bottomparts may be connected to the floor and the cables may be embedded in afast and flexible way. With the upper part, the raceway may be closedsimilarly like a tube so that the cables are saved and hidden in theraceway to be prevented against damage. Additionally, the modulartwo-part raceway may be very flexible because further cables may beinserted easily at any time.

According to a further embodiment, the length of the raceway isadjustable. Therewith, the cables may be flexibly adjusted in anypreferable length so that the cables may be protected and embedded bythe raceway.

According to a further embodiment, the upper part of the raceway isadjustable by sliding the upper part on the bottom part of the raceway.With this flexible raceway system, the cables may be protected at anylength of the raceway.

According to a further embodiment, in order to adjust a defined andpredetermined length, the upper part, one of the upper parts and/or thebottom part at includes a scale. According to a further preferredembodiment, the upper part consist of at least two parts, wherein theparts may be moveable telescopically, such as a telescopic tube.

According to a further embodiment, the second connection element isintegrated in a seat, substantially in the seat leg.

According to a further embodiment, the raceway outlet element is fixedin floor tracks. Floor tracks may be usually equipped with little fixingholes, wherein the raceway outlet element may be plugged in at a definedposition of the aircraft. Therefore, it may be easy and fast toselectively fix the cable interface or especially the raceway outletelement at a desired position of the aircraft floor.

In a further embodiment, the raceway outlet element is fixed in seattrack holes. In modern aircraft, these passenger seats may be usuallyfixed in so-called seat track holes that may be positioned longitudinalto the aircraft fuselage. With an embodiment, these passenger seat trackholes in order to fix also the raceway outlet element may be used.Therefore, the raceway outlet element may be fixed very easily in anyposition of the aircraft without installing further fixing elements.

According to a further embodiment, the cables may be selected from thegroup consisting of electronic cables, power cables, data cables,optical fibers and light conductors. However, the connection elementaccording to an embodiment may be also configured to receive othercomponents than cables.

The first and second connection elements may be realized as a plug and abushing. The first and second connection elements may be realized as amale and a female connector matched to one another. Thus, the first andsecond connection elements may be any pair of connectors which allow toelectrically connect cables coupled to the first connection element tocables coupled to the second connection element.

According to a further embodiment, the first and second connectionelements include a press-self-cleaning connection. This kind ofconnection element is characterized by a non-plugging connection, thatmeans that both connection partners may be in slidable contact and notfixed by a plug. Therefore, the contacts may grind against each other,whereby they may clean themselves automatically because of vibrations orbecause of changing the connection device position. Today, it may be aproblem especially in aircrafts, such of as defilement of the contactsin aircraft seats, for instance such as dirt or soft drinks such asCoke,®¹ the electronic connections may be often disconnected. With thisfurther embodiment the self-cleaning effect of this connection mayimprove the electronic connection quality.

According to a further embodiment, the raceway outlet element comprisesan induction connector such as an Indux connector of the company¹Coke® is a registered trademark of the Coca-Cola Corporation. Deutsch,which is an example of an electric connector. Electric connectors, inone example, are made out of housing and the contacts. Other connectorsuse pin-socket contacts. The flexible raceway may use Indux connectors,or face-to-face contacts. With electrical connectors, the electroniccontacts are only in contact with each other for providing electronicconductivity. Accordingly, for every connection, there is aself-cleaning mechanism that cleans the contacts automatically becauserecesses, for example, sockets are not necessary and no dirt particleswould close the connector sockets, which provides an advantage. Inmechanical connectors, such as Pin-Socket, the housing of the connectorprovides a mechanical connection. Nevertheless, the raceway may useeither type of contact, an electric connector (for example, an Induxconnector) or a mechanical connector (for example, a pin-socket typeconnector.)

This connector provides a cable interface with which two cables may beconnected in a very easy and fast way by using a plug-and-play concept.

According to a further embodiment, the raceway outlet element comprisesa deadphase insert. This so-called deadphase insert controls the feedinglines to the seats. In an aircraft, for instance, it may be important tocontrol the power load distribution. Therefore, every seat may beconnected with its own phase. By adding the deadphase insert to theraceway outlet element, a determined phase is connected to the seat. Forinstance, the first seat row is connected with Phase A, the second seatrow with Phase B etc., so that a constant load distribution for everyseat may be provided.

According to a further embodiment, the raceway and the raceway outletelement may be integrally formed, that is to say are manufactured as asingle member. With this embodiment, less parts may be necessary so thatcosts and weight may be reduced.

According to a further embodiment, a cable is provided, including amemory lead. Therewith the cable may be stretched in each desirableposition, whereby the cable maintains this position without applyingforce trying to draw the cable back in the previous position. On theother side by pushing the cable back to the first position, the cablemay recapture the original position or the original shape. This kind ofcable may be called memory-snake-cable.

According to a further embodiment, a method for connecting cables iscreated, wherein the method comprises, a step of providing a raceway, astep of installing a raceway to receive the cables, and connecting afirst connection element of a raceway outlet element connected to theraceway to a second connection element which is designed to correspondto the first connection element, wherein the first connection element isconnected to the cables.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the step of providing araceway includes a providing a raceway with an upper part and a bottompart, and the step of installing the raceway includes the steps ofconnecting a raceway bottom part to the floor, further embedding thecables in the bottom part, and finally connecting the upper part to thebottom part, wherein the cables may be embedded in both raceway parts.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises afurther step of connecting the raceway outlet element by a thirdconnection element to a second cable. Therefore, a desirable amount offurther connection elements may be adaptable.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises afurther step of adjusting the length of the raceway. Therefore, theraceway may be adjusted very flexibly at every position of the aircraft.By adding the raceway outlet element to the end of the raceway, thecable interface may be adjusted flexibly.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises afurther step of adjusting the upper parts of the raceway by sliding theupper parts on the bottom part of the raceway. With this embodiment ofthe method, the length of the raceway may be adjusted in an easy andfast way.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises afurther step of connecting a second connecting means to the firstconnecting means. After adjusting the raceway outlet element includingthe first connection means to a predetermined position, a secondconnecting means may be connected in an easy way, for instance with theplug and play method for instance by using a moveablepress-self-cleaning connection method.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises afurther step of connecting the second connecting means to the firstconnecting means automatically. With this embodiment of the method, theconnection means may be designed to be connected automatically, such asplug and play or click connections. With this embodiment, installationand connection of the cables may be easy and may be accomplished fast.

According to a further embodiment of the present method, the methodcomprises a further step of integrating the second connecting means in aseat, wherein by installing the seat, the first and second connectingmeans may be connected automatically. Especially in order to change theseat configurations of aircraft, it may be necessary to configure theseat positions very quickly to keep the turnaround time of aircraft veryshort. With the present method, the passenger seats may be reconfiguredby disconnecting the second connecting means from the first connectingmeans, changing the position of the passenger seats and then, afterconfiguration, the raceway outlet element, reconnect the second and thefirst connecting means. The connection means may be therefore designedto connect themselves automatically so that reconfiguration of the cabinlayouts may be accomplished in a fast and easy way.

According to a further embodiment of the present method, the methodcomprises a further step of using a press-self-cleaning connection forconnecting the first and second connection elements. Therewith thecontacts always grind against each other, whereby they may cleanthemselves automatically because of vibrations or because of changingthe connection device position.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises afurther step of covering the raceway and/or the raceway outlet elementby covering means. Because the raceway according to an embodiment may bekept very small, it may be easy to cover the raceway including thecables, for instance, with a fuselage floor, such as carpets. Therefore,the cables may not disturb the passengers and may not be damaged by thepassengers.

According to a further embodiment of the present method, the methodcomprises a further step of fixing the raceway outlet element into floortracks. In aircraft, floor tracks usually may be fixed on the fuselagefloor to fix several devices. Floor tracks provide fixing holes, whereinalso raceway outlet elements may be plugged in and therewith fixed in avery easy and fast way with the fuselage floor. Because the floor trackswere usually positioned longitudinal to the fuselage, the raceway outletelement or the raceway may be fixed in every desired position in theaircraft.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises afurther step of fixing the raceway outlet element in seat track holes.With the present embodiment, the raceway outlet elements or/and theraceway seat track holes may be fixed, such that additional fixing meansmay be dispensible. Therewith, additional costs or additionalreconfiguration time may be prevented.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises afurther step of placing a deadphase insert on the raceway outletelement. Therewith the connection to certain predetermined cables may becontrolled easily.

According to a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises afurther step of adjusting the length of the raceway automatically.Therewith, for instance with simple or small adjusting motors, theraceways may be adjusted to a defined position. The control of thesteering of the raceways may be controlled for instance by the boardcomputer.

Further embodiments provide a means of transportation comprising aconnection system for cables having the above-mentioned features.

In a further embodiment, the means of transportation is an aircraft.

In a further embodiment, a connection system for cables having theabove-mentioned features is used in an aircraft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following, embodiments will be specified for further explanationand for better understanding with reference to the attached drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a raceway

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a connection of an electronic devicewith the cables using the raceway of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an aircraft passenger seat connected with the connectionsystem according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a raceway outlet element according toan embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of one configuration of the racewayaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a connection system according to anembodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of aircraft seat configuration forbusiness class including the connection system according to one example.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of passenger seat configuration foreconomy class including the connection system in one example.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of deadphase insert according to anembodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of the raceway and the raceway outletelement configured on the aircraft floor according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 shows a floor track according to an embodiment.

FIG. 12 shows a raceway outlet element including first connection meansaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows an adjustable raceway including a scale according to anembodiment.

FIG. 14 shows a connection system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 15 to FIG. 21 show schematic views illustrating a method ofconnecting the first and the second connecting means according to anembodiment.

FIG. 22 shows a embodiment of a raceway outlet element.

FIG. 23 shows an embodiment of an raceway upper part comprising a scale.

FIG. 24 shows two different set of deliveries according to anembodiment.

FIG. 25 shows an exploded view by using the connection device accordingto one example.

FIG. 26 shows a preferred embodiment of a raceway outlet elementaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 27 shows a installed connection device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 28 shows an enlarged view of the connection section according to anembodiment.

FIG. 29 a-e show a procedure for installing aircraft seats with theconnection device according to an embodiment

FIG. 30 shows a detailed view of the connection section according to oneembodiment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The examples described and drawings rendered are illustrative and arenot to be read as limiting the scope of the invention as it is definedby the appended claims.

Similar or relating components in the several figures are provided withthe same reference numerals.

The views in the figures are schematic and not full-scaled.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional raceway 1. The raceway of FIG. 1 comprises abottom part 2 and an upper part 3 which may be fixed together andwherein several cables may be embedded. With the raceway 1, it may notbe possible to adjust the length of the raceway 1 flexibly, because theraceway outlets may not be changed.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional connection system, wherein an electronicdevice 4 is connected by means of several cables 5 that may be embeddedin a raceway 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the cables 5 leave the raceway 1 ona defined position in order to connect the electronic device 4. Changingthe position of the electronic device 4, new raceways 1 with newpositioned raceway outlets have to be installed. The result of areconfiguration of, for instance, passenger seats may take long time andmay be expensive because new raceways have to be designed manually by anengineer for a certain length.

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of seats 10 comprising a connection systemaccording to one example. Between each seat 10, a raceway 1 embeddingthe feeding cables for the passenger seats 10 is placed, wherein at eachend, a raceway outlet element 6 is placed for connecting cables with thepassenger seat electronic 4. By using a cable interface with a firstconnecting means 12 and a second connecting means 13 (see FIG. 17), itmay not longer necessary to connect the cables 5 directly to theelectronic devices 4 so that the seat positions may be changed fast andflexible.

FIG. 4 shows a view of an raceway outlet element 6 according to anembodiment. The raceway outlet element 16 may be exactly adjusted andthe position may be defined by the reference point 16.

FIG. 5 shows a raceway 1 that is fixed on the fuselage floor 15. Asshown in FIG. 5, the raceway 1 may be designed so that covering means 8,such as carpets etc., may cover the raceway 1, which may increase thecomfort for the passengers and protect the cables.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the connection system. The seat 10 isconnected, as shown, with the cables 5. Therefore, the seat 10 and theraceway outlet element 6 may be placed in the preferred positionmeasured from the reference point 16. Then, a second connection means 13at the seat is plugged to the first connection means 12 of the racewayoutlet element 6. According to the plug-and play technology which may beused, the raceway outlet element 6 changes from an open position 7 to aclosed position 9, so that the cables 5 may be connected by thisinterface.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the flexibility of the connection system according toone example.

In FIG. 7, cabin layouts for the business class may be shown, whereinthe seat rows may be spaced, for instance, 60 inches from one another toreceive a high comfort for the passengers. For each seat 10, racewayoutlet elements 6 may be provided to connect the seats 10 with allnecessary data and power cables 5.

As shown in FIG. 8, for a cabin layout for the economy class, eachpassenger seat row is spaced just 30 inches from each other so that theraceway outlet elements 6 have also to be spaced 30 inches in order toconnect the passenger seats 10 with the necessary power and data cables5. By using the connecting system in one example, the reconfigurationbetween the business class and economy class may be handled very quicklybecause each seat 10 may be connected to the necessary cables 5 easy.

In FIG. 9, a configuration of the raceway 1 is shown. There, the raceway1 is routed close besides the seat track 18. The fuselage flooring 17 isalso form-closed to the raceway 1, so that the raceway may be embeddedwithout creating unwanted splits or edges etc.

FIG. 10 shows an adjustable raceway 1 that is fixed on the floor 15, 17of a fuselage. The upper side 3 of the raceway 1 consists of two parts,wherein these two parts may be relocatable connected so that they may beadjusted to a required length. As shown in FIG. 10, on each end of theraceway 1, a raceway outlet element 6 is fixed on the floor or on theraceway 1 to provide an interface with an electronic device 4, forinstance an electronic device 4 installed in a seat 10.

In FIG. 11 it is shown, that the seat 10 and/or the raceway 1 and/or theraceway outlet elements 6 may be fixed within these track holes 11.

FIG. 12 shows a plugging concept comprising a deadphase insert. Thedeadphase insert covers the different phases that are embedded in theraceway 1, wherein the deadphase insert allows to connect one or morepredetermined phases. Therewith, for instance, power connections foreach seat may be controlled for providing for all seats for instance thesame or a similar power load.

FIG. 13 shows an adjustable raceway 1. The upper part 3 of the racewaycomprises two parts, wherein one part includes a scale for adjusting adefined position. Moreover, a raceway outlet element 6 is shown that maybe placed for instance on the right end side. The raceway parts 3 may bemoved telescopically.

FIG. 14 shows a connection system according to one example wherein theraceway 1, particularly the upper part 3 of the raceway 1, is equippedwith a scale so that a determined position may be adjusted easily. It isshown that on each end of the raceway 1, a raceway outlet element 6 isfixed with the floor and builds an interface with an electronic device4.

FIG. 15 to FIG. 21 show the method of connecting the cables with theelectronic devices according to one example. In FIG. 15, the raceway 1is shown with its upper part 3 wherein a cable 5 is embedded. On theright end, a raceway outlet element 6 is connected to the raceway 1. Theraceway outlet element 6 may be equipped with the first connection means12 with which several second connection means 13 may be connected.

FIG. 15 illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment comprising araceway 1 receiving a cable 5 and a raceway outlet element 6 including afirst connecting means 12.

FIG. 16 points out the flexible connection between the raceway 1 and theraceway outlet element 6.

FIG. 17 shows that, after positioning of the predetermined length of theconnecting system, an electronic device 4 including a second connectingmeans 13 may be installed.

In FIG. 18 to FIG. 21 it is shown that the connection system accordingto the one example may provide a comfortable and easy way of connectingthe first 12 and second 13 connecting means by using plug-and playtechniques.

FIG. 22 shows an embodiment of the raceway outlet element, whereby onthe upper surface of the raceway outlet element, for instance, a seat10, may be connected.

FIG. 23 shows an embodiment of an upper part 3 of a raceway 1, wherebythe upper part 3 comprises a scale for adjusting the raceway 1 exactly.

FIG. 24 shows two embodiments of a set of delivery including an upperrail 3 and a snake cable 5, whereby the snake cable 5 is connected onone end to a raceway outlet element 6 and includes another end 14 thatis connectable to another raceway outlet element 6. Thereby the deliverysets may comprise two different basic lengths of the raceway 1. The leftdelivery set may be a set for a pitch from 30-45 inches (i.e. economyclass) and the right delivery set may be a set for a pitch from 45-60inches (i.e. business class).

FIG. 25 shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the connectiondevice for connecting aircraft seats 10. On the aircraft floor an in thefloor embedded bottom part 2 is shown, wherein the cables 5 may bereceived. The cables 5 are connected to an raceway outlet element 6 thatis also fixed to the rail 2. The first seat 10 may be installed just byplacing the seat 10 including a second connection means 13 over theraceway outlet element 6. Thereby, the electronic and data cables willbe connected automatically by the plug and play concept, in one exampleand the press-self cleaning connector. The position of the racewayoutlet element may be adjusted and therewith, the connection position ofthe sets 10. As shown, one upper part 3 of a raceway 1 comprises a scalewith which a specific position may be adjusted.

After placing the first seat element 10, further seat elements 10 may beplaced. Therewith a second cable 5 may be connected to the alreadyplaced first raceway outlet element 6 and to a second raceway outletelement 6. (Again, an upper part 3 of the raceway 1 covers the bottompart 2 of the raceway 1 including the cables 5.) This process may berepeated for any desired amount of seats rows 10.

FIG. 26 shows an detailed view of preferred embodiment of an racewayoutlet element 6. It is illustrated, that at least two cables may beconnected by an additional third connection, for instance, forconnecting the element 6 to a seat 10.

FIG. 27 shows an installed seat configuration 10 by using the connectiondevice in one example. After the first installation description in FIG.29 a-e, each seat row 10 may be moved longitudinal in any desiredposition. The snake cable 5 provides a sufficient cable length and maybe equipped with an memory lead for guiding the cable during thereconfiguration of the seats 10.

FIG. 28 shows an enlarged view of the connection section. The floortrack holes 11 are shown, wherein the connection system and the seats 10may be fixed.

FIG. 29 (a)-(e) show a method of installing the seats 10 with theconnection device according to one example for the first time. Afterinstalling one seat row, a further seat row may be placed and beinterconnected with the seat and a front and back seat row 10. Everydesirable amount of seat rows 10 and any desirable space between theseat rows 10 may occur. After placing and connecting the seat rows forthe first time, each seat row 10 may be moved longitudinally in anydesired position.

FIG. 30 shows a detailed view of a connection section, wherein it isshown that one first upper part 3 comprises a scale and another upperpart 3 is slidably connected to the first upper part 3 and may be movedtelescopically on it. By using the scale, each seat row 10 may beposition exactly without requiring further measuring means.

It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims shall not beconstrued as limiting the scope of the claims.

It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude otherelements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Alsoelements described in association with different embodiments may becombined.

Alternative combinations and variations of the examples provided willbecome apparent based on this disclosure. It is not possible to providedspecific examples for all of the many possible combinations andvariations of the embodiments described, but such combinations andvariations may be claims that eventually issue.

1. A connection device, comprising: a raceway outlet element connectableto a raceway for receiving cables, wherein the raceway outlet elementincludes a first connection element for connecting a cable to a secondconnection element which is designed to correspond to the firstconnection element.
 2. The connection device according to claim 1,wherein the raceway outlet element includes a third connection elementfor connecting a second cable.
 3. The connection device according toclaim 1, comprising the raceway for receiving cables.
 4. The connectiondevice according to claim 3, wherein the raceway-comprises an upper partand a bottom part, wherein the bottom part is connectable with a floorand the upper part is connectable to the bottom part, wherein the cablesare guidable through the upper part and the bottom part.
 5. Theconnection device according to claim 3, wherein a length of the racewayis adjustable.
 6. The connection device according to claim 4, whereinthe upper part of the raceway is adjustable by sliding the upper part onthe bottom part of the raceway.
 7. The connection device according toclaim 4, wherein the upper part comprises at least two parts which aremoveable telescopically.
 8. The connection device according to claim 4,wherein the upper part or one of the upper parts or the bottom part or acombination thereof, includes a scale for adjusting a defined length. 9.The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the secondconnection element is integrated in a seat, substantially in a seat leg.10. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein the raceway theraceway outlet element, or a combination thereof, -is covered by acovering element.
 11. The connection device according to claim 1,wherein the raceway outlet element is fixed in floor tracks.
 12. Theconnection device according to claim 1, wherein the raceway outletelement is fixed in seat track holes.
 13. The connection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the cables are selected from the groupconsisting of electronic cables, power cables, data cables, opticalfibers and light conductors.
 14. The connection device according toclaim 1, wherein the first and second connection elements include apress-self-cleaning connection.
 15. The connection device according toclaim 1, wherein the raceway outlet element comprises an inductionconnector.
 16. The connection device according to claim 1, wherein theraceway outlet element comprises a deadphase insert.
 17. The connectiondevice according to claim 1, wherein the raceway and the raceway outletelement are integrally formed.
 18. The connection device according toclaim 1, wherein the length of the raceway is adjustable automatically.19. A seat, comprising a second connection element which is designed tocorrespond and to be connected to a first connection element of aconnection device according to claim
 1. 20. A method for connectingcables, wherein the method comprises the following steps: providing araceway; installing a raceway to receive the cables, and connecting afirst connection element of a raceway outlet element connected to theraceway to a second connection element which is designed to correspondto the first connection element, wherein the first connection element isconnected to the cables.
 21. The method according to claim 20, whereinthe step of providing a raceway includes providing a raceway with araceway bottom part and a raceway upper part, and the step of installinga raceway includes the steps of: connecting a raceway bottom part to afloor, embedding the cables in the raceway bottom part, and connecting araceway upper part to the raceway bottom part, such the cables areembedded between the raceway upper part and the raceway bottom part. 22.The method according to claim 20, wherein the method comprises a furtherstep of connecting the raceway outlet element by a third connectionelement to a second cable.
 23. The method according to claim 20, whereinthe method comprises a further step of adjusting the length of theraceway.
 24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the methodcomprises a further step of adjusting the upper part of the raceway bysliding the upper part on the bottom part of the raceway.
 25. The methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the method comprises a further step ofconnecting the second connection element to the first connection elementautomatically.
 26. The method according to claim 20, wherein the methodcomprises a further step of integrating the second connection element ina seat, wherein by installing the seat, the first and second connectionelements are connected automatically.
 27. The method according to claim20, wherein the method comprises a further step of using apress-self-cleaning connection for connecting the first and secondconnection element.
 28. The method according to claim 20, wherein themethod comprises a further step of covering the raceway or the racewayoutlet element or a combination thereof by covering elements.
 29. Themethod according to claim 20, wherein the method comprises a furtherstep of fixing the raceway outlet element in floor tracks.
 30. Themethod according to claim 20, wherein the method comprises a furtherstep of fixing the raceway outlet element in seat track holes.
 31. Themethod according to claim 20, wherein the method comprises a furtherstep of placing a deadphase insert on the raceway outlet element.
 32. Ameans of transportation, comprising a connection device for cablesaccording to claim 1, to 18 a seat according to claim 19 or acombination thereof.
 33. A means of transportation according to claim32, wherein the means of transportation is an aircraft.
 34. (canceled)